Types of Hunting Dogs

There are different types of hunting dogs that are used in different parts of the world to hunt down different types of games. Let us have a look at some of the types, bred for centuries, to help man hunt down prey.

Dogs have been bred and raised by man since hundreds of centuries. Not just as a pet, but also to assist man with his various endeavors. Dogs have been used as trackers, sled dogs and even hunting dogs. These dogs are those that help hunters hunt down prey. There are different types depending on the game, the task of the dog as well as type of hunting ground. Based on these requirements, there are different categories of hunting dogs. These include the terriers, cur type dogs, gun dogs and hounds.

Different Types of Hunting Dogs

The types explained below will help give you an insight regarding the dog breeds that belong to each particular category.

Hound Dog

These are the oldest group of dogs that are used to pursue and catch animals that are hunted. Hound dogs are divided into three categories namely sighthounds, scent hounds and lurchers. Let us have a look at these types of hound dogs.

☞ SighthoundsThese are dogs that are known for their visual accuracy as well as speed. These dogs sight the prey from a distance. Then it is stalked or pursued and may even be nearly killed by these canines. The sighthounds are known for their quiet and quick mode of action. These dogs are independent by nature and can capture fast prey like deer, hare, etc. Some of the sighthound dog breeds include -

☞ Scent HoundsAs the name suggests, scent hounds use their ability to smell and track down prey. They are known to trail a game and even kill it at times. These dogs work in packs and often lead the hunter on a chase. Some of these dogs are known for their deep, booming barks that help the hunters follow a dog's trail. Some of the scent hound dog types include -

☞ LurchersThe Lurchers are a cross between sighthounds and terriers or pastoral dogs. They tend to chase and kill the game. Generally, they are used to hunt down rabbits, hares and foxes. Sometimes, they are even used to hunt down bigger games like a wild boar or deer.

Gun Dogs

Gun dogs are another type of hunting dogs that help hunt down small games. Gun dogs are divided into different categories like spaniels, pointing and retriever dogs.

Retrievers

Retrievers are dogs who help the hunter find and bring back a shot game. They can wait for hours and keep a visual track of the downed birds. Once given a command, they will quickly run and retrieve the birds. These dogs can be thought to follow different types of commands that involves a whistle, verbal que or hand gesture. Dogs under the retriever group include -

Setters are known as upland game bird hunters. They are used to hunt games like pheasant, grouse and quail. They are quiet hunters who track down prey by scent. Once the dog locates a prey, it freezes instead of chasing it. Types of setters include -

Spaniels are gun dogs that help flush out a game from a dense bush. There are different breeds that specialize in their hunting skills such as water spaniels and land spaniels. Some of the spaniel dog breeds include -

Pointers are dogs that help locate a small game so that the hunter can flush it out. These gun dogs have an instinct to point their muzzle towards the game. They are known for their pointing and barking instincts. Types of pointers include -

Water dogs, previously known as water spaniels, help flush and retrieve games in water. They are strong swimmers, thus making them an excellent choice for retrieving water birds. This dog group is a subset of the retriever dog group. These dogs include -

Feists are small dogs that help hunt small games. They were developed as hunting dogs in the southern United States. They generally hunt in packs and 'bark up' on trees. This helps the hunter know the location of the hiding prey.

Terriers

Terriers are small dogs that are extremely active and totally fearless. They are used to hunt down mammals by targeting a game and then capturing or killing it. Some terriers are even developed to go underground and drive a prey out or hunt it down. The working terriers are used to find, track or trail a quarry. The Fell terriers were breeds that helped kill foxes and Hunt terriers were developed to locate and kill foxes during a mounted fox hunt.

Curs

Curs are mixed breed of dogs that are developed in the rural United States. It is used to hunt down preys like raccoons, cougars and other larger mammals. Some of the cur dog types include -

These dogs have high prey instinct and need to be trained thoroughly. These dogs can attack any small animal or pet as their prey drive is very strong. These dogs are extremely loyal and intelligent. With proper training and guidance, they prove to be efficient hunting assistants for hunters.